FUNCTIONAL CT IMAGING OF THE LUNG IN THE AXIAL AND CORONAL PLANE AFTER SINGLE-LUNG TRANSPLANTATION

After single-lung transplantation in a patient suffering from obstruct ive emphysema lung function parameters worsened during follow-up. To c omplement the routine high-resolution CT (HRCT) scans acquired in insp iration, additional scans were obtained to evaluate regional lung func tion. The comparison of HRCT scans acquired in inspiration and in expi ration revealed different ventilation conditions of both lungs, contin uous acquisition in a single slice (dynamic multiscan acquisition) in the axial and coronal plane demonstrated mediastinal shifting and the movement of the diaphragm during the whole breathing cycle. Both modal ities can provide important information concerning regional difference s of ventilation after single-lung transplantation. Expiratory HRCT sh ould be applied on a regular basis in the follow-up of patients after single-lung transplantation. The application of axial and coronal dyna mic multiscan acquisitions will be helpful in particular clinical cond itions, like increasing hyperinflation, mediastinal shifting or bronch ial collapse within the region of the anastomosis.